Thread feeding means for knitting machines



Jan. 26, 1932 R. H. LAWSON 1,842,974

THREAD FEEDING MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Dec. 18, 1929 3Shets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR: ROBERTH LAWSON, BY 6? 7 11 60666 ATT Y.

Jan. 26, 1932. R. H. LAWSON 1,842,974

THREAD FEEDING MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Dec. 18, 1929 sSheets-Sheet 2 O H W'www INVENIUR R0BERTH. LAWSON BY WM Tail/a3? A TT YJan. 26, 1932. R. H. LAWSON 1,842,974

THREAD FEEDING MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Dec. 18. 1929 sSheets-Shet s.

fNvENToR R05 ERT H. LAWSON,

' BY @wf q ATTY.

Patented Jan. 26, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIcE ROBERT H. LAWSON, OFPAWTUGKET, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO HEMPHILL COM- PANY, OF CENTRALFALLS,

RHODE ISLAND, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS THREAD FEEDING MEAN S FORKNITTING MACHINES Application filed December 18, 1929. Serial No.414,932.

This invention relates to and supplements the mechanism disclosed in thepatent to Lawson et a1. 1,702,608, February 19, 1929,

and has in view the provision of some means whereby the wrapping floatsresulting from the operation of the disc 117 in the Lawson patent abovereferred to will not be unduly lengthened by the usual high splice anddouble sole floats. If a high splice mechanism 1.0 were applied to amechanism such as that shown in the Lawson floats of a thread 103 would,of necessity, pass around the high splice floats and, as the saidfloatsordinarily constitute chords connecting the knit in portion of the .highsplice, the wrapping floats of a thread 103 would be unduly lengthened,thus necessitating a subsequent cutting operation to remove theresulting long wrapping floats of a thread or threads 103. I

Application Serial No. 379,302, filed July 18, 1929, discloses a meansfor acting upon the high splice floats so that the floats of the threadscorresponding to threads 103 in the Lawson patent will not be undulylengthened but may pass in a straight line from the last wale Where knitin in one course to the first wale where knit in in a succeeding orfol,- lowing course. Whereas in the oopending 30 application referred tothe means for acting upon the high splice floats consists of a cutter,as disclosed herein meansis provided to draw out more of the high splicethread or yarn during each course of knitting of the high splice so thatthe before mentioned chords connecting the opposite edges of the highsplice will be slack thereby permitting a thread corresponding to thethread 103 of the'Lawson patent to extend in a substantially straightline at the rear of the knit-in wales from the last wa'le where knit-inin one course to the first knit in wale in a following course ofknitting, the slack high splice floats being drawn by the wrappingfloats against the rear face of the fabric and between the wrappingfloats and the knit-in wales.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a latch ring with the improvements applied;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the patent the wrapping line 22,Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrow, the wrap' stripe mechanismnot being shown;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3, Fig. .1 looking inthe direction of the arrow, the needles and thread being omitted;-

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4, Fig. 1 looking inthe direction of the arrow; and I Figs. 5, 6, 7 8 and 9 illustratediagrammatically the knitting of a partially reinforced course whilewrapping an additional thread around certain, selected needles.

A latch ring 1 has the usual bracket arms 2 through which a pivot pin 3extends and pivotally carried by the said pivot pin 3 in the usualmanner are yarn levers 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8. The yarn lever 4 is theso-called hi h splice lever which, during the knitting of t e highsplice, is adapted to feed a thread T to one half, more or less, of theneedles during the knitting of each course, the thread T floating fromthe last knit-in Wale of one course to the first knit-in Wale of thefollowing course. The yarn levers 5, 6, 7, and 8 carry the threads forknitting the body of the stocking, the heel and toe, as well as platingand interchangeable striping threads.

At 9 is shown a disc corresponding to the disc shown at 117 in theLawson patent and carrying porcelain eyes 10. The number of suchporcelain eyes as well as their relative disposition upon the peripheryof the disc 9 is not important as they may be arranged to suit theparticular pattern or design to be knit-in by the plating threads thatare fed to and wrapped around certain needles by the eyes 10 and in amanner similar to or identical with that disclosed in the Lawson patent.

The usual thread or yarn binder 11 is shown attached at 12 to anextension of the latch ring by which the latch ring is pivoted to themachine frame in the usual manner and so thatthe latch ring may be swungup and away from the needle circle when desired. The binder includes anautomaticallyoperated cutter 13 which severs the yarns or threads thrownout of action but does not sever the high splice floats during eachcourse of knitting which floats pass under the plate 14 of the binder asindicated by dotted lines, Fig. 1.

The mechanism with which this invention is particularly concernedconsists of an arcshaped plate or curved bar 15 carried by a bracket 16connected to the latch ring as at 17. The plate 15 is, preferably,concentric with the circle of needles and is grooved as at 18 to receivea high splice float of the thread T as it is carried around by the lastneedle knitting the same into the fabric for a given course of the highsplice. Such a needle is shown in a position 19, Figs. 1 and 5, thelever 4 at such time being in raised non-feeding position. As the needlein the position indicated by 19, Figs. 1 and 5, moves from such positionaround the needle circle, it carries a float of the thread T to thesecond position indicated by the numeral 20, Figs. 1 and 6, at whichtime the said thread is received within the groove 18 of the plate 15.Continued rotation of the needles carries the last high splice needlefrom the position indicated at 20 to a third position indicated at 21,Figs. 1 and 7, at which time the high splice float of the thread T,instead of passing from the first high splice needle shown at 22straight across to the last high splice needle, as a chord, is deflectedby the plate 15, the path of the float at such time being shown in fulllines. There-' after as the needle cylinder continues to 1'0- tate, thelast high splice needle moves from the position shown at 21, Fig. 7, tothe position shown at 23, Fig. 8, the first high splice needle in themeantime moving from the position shown at 22, Fig. 7, to the positionindicated at 24:, Fig. 8, in which position (Fig. 8) the float of thehigh splice thread T is shown as being between the float of thewrapthread W and the needle cylinder or in other words between the floatof such wrap threadand the knitted fabric. Continued rotation of theneedle cylinder finally carries the last high splice needle from theposition shown at 23, Fig. 8, to a position indicated at 25, Fig. 9, thehigh splice float of the thread T then being confined between the shortfloat of the wrap stripe thread W and the fabric, as clear- 1y shown insaid Fig.9, the excess length of the high splice float of the thread T,due to the plate 15 drawing out considerably more thread for the highsplice float-than is necessary to span the diameter of the needle circlebetween the positions 21 and 22, providing slack in the high splicethread thereby permitting a plating thread W, which is fed to certainneedles by an eye 10 and passes around the slack high splice float, todraw the latter against the rear face of the wales where the thread W isknitted into the fabric, the float of the plating thread extending in a.substantially straight line from the last wale where it is knitted intothe fabric in one course to the first Wale Where it is knitted into thefabric in the following course as shown in Fig. 9.

Unless some means, such as hereinbefore described, is provided to actupon the high splice or other floats ofthread T and permit the floats ofthe wrap stripe threads W to lie adjacent to the inner or rear face ofthe fabric, the high splice floats will extend in a substantiallystraight line across the needle circle and will cause the floats of thewrap thread W to be pulled out to a much greater length then is shown in9, where it extends in a substantially straight line from the lastneedle which knits it into the fabric in one course to the first needlewhich knits it into the fabric in a following course.

In Figs. 5-9 inclusive a single course of high splice or double soleknitting has been illustrated diagrammatically; although in Fig. 9 thereis shown, in broken lines, a wrap stripe thread passing through theeyelet 10 t0 the last needle around which the said thread was wrappedfor the course of knitting following the course illustrated in Figs. 5-9inclusive.

The usual needle cylinder is shown at 26 having mounted therein needles27. Slid-. able radially within grooves in the sinker head 28 aresinkers 29 which sinkers are supported in their sliding movements by thesinker head and stitch ring 30.

Although high splice and double sole floats have been referred to itwill be understood that whenever a reinforcing or other thread isknitted into the fabric for partial courses only, the means hereindisclosed will act upon such thread and permit the float s of the wrapthread or threads to lie adjacent to the rear face of the fabric.

Throughout the specification and claims threads and yarns have beeninterchangeably used, although occasionally yarns has been used todesignate the body yarns whereas threads has been used to describe thewrap threads; however, yarns and threads are synonymous. f

Although the invention has been described in connection with a hosierymachine, it may be applied to so-called body machines or other machinesfor continuous circular work and is not necessarily limited in allrespects to circle knitting machines nor to knitting machines havingindependent needles.

Claims:

1. A knitting machine including a rotary needle cylinder having needlesmounted therein adapted independently to more to and from threadtakingposition, means for feeding a thread to all the needles and a secondthread to certain of the needles only,

the second mentioned thread floating across 1 the partial courses, meansfor feeding a third thread to certain needles only and by needlewrapping movements of the said third I certain needles, ing from therelative movements of the third thread with respect to said last namedcertain needles, whereby the thread third mentioned encircles thementioned floats of the thread second mentioned, and means so controlling the thread floats during knitting that such thread floats areto the inner face of the fabric by the wrap threads.

2. A knitting machine including a rotary needle cylinder, needlesmounted in the said cylinder and adapted to be moved independently toand from thread taking position, means for feeding a thread to all of.the needles and an additional thread to certain of the needles only, thesaid additional thread being adapted to float from course to coursesubstantially diametrically of the needle circle, means adapted to' feeda third thread to certain of the needles only and by movements of thethird thread around the last named certain needles, the wrapping floatsresulting from the relative movements of the third thread with respectto the said certain needles enclosing the floats of the second mentionedthread, and means so co trolling the thread floats during knitting thatsuch thread floats are drawn adjacent to the inner face of the fabric bythe wrap threads.

3. A knitting machine including a rotary needle cylinder, needlesmounted in the said cylinder and adapted to be moved independently toand from thread taking position, means for feeding a thread to all ofthe needles and an additional thread to certain of the needles only, thesaid additional thread being adapted to float from course to coursesubstantially diametrically of the needle circle, means adapted to feed'athird thread to certain of the needles only and by movements of thethird thread around the the Wrapping floats resultthread with respect tothe said last named certain needles enclosing the floats of the secondmentioned thread, and means adapted to act upon the second mentionedthread floats whereby the floats of the thread third mentioned will lieadjacent to the inner face of the'fabric, the means last namedconsisting of an element adapted to engage the additional thread floatsand increase the length thereof.

4. A latch ring for thread feeding means float thread engaging with thesaid latch ring and positioned substantially diametrically opposite thethread feeding means and consisting of an arc shaped bar. having ahorizontally disposed thread receiving portion thereo substantiallyconcentric with the latclf ring.-

, 5. A knitting machine including a rotary needle cylinder, needlesmounted in the said cylinder and adapted to be moved incarried thereby,a member assoclated drawn adjacent dle circle,

to the inner face of the knitting machines, a

dependently to and from thread taking position, means for feeding athread to all of. the needles and an additional thread to certain of theneedles only, the said additional thread being adapted to float fromcourse to course substantially diametrically of the neemeans adapted tofeed a third thread to certain of the needles only and by movements ofthe third thread around the certain needles, the wrapping floatsresulting from the relative movements of thefthird thread with respectto the said certain needles enclosing the floats of the second mentionedthread, means adapted to act upon the second mentioned thread floats sothat the floats of the thread third mentioned will extend in asubstantially straight line from the last knit in wale of one course tothe first knit in, Wale of another course, the means last mentionedconsisting of an element adapted to engage the additional thread floatsand increase the length thereof, and having a grooved, concentric threadreceiving portion to receive and guide the first mentioned thread floatstherein.

6. A latch ring for knitting machines, a thread feeding means carriedthereby, a float thread engaging member also carried by the said latchring and positioned substantially diametrically means, and having aconcentric thread receiving portion grooved to receive and guide thethread floats therein.

7. .A latch ring for use in circular knitting machines, a thread orthereby, the latch ring being provided with means for feeding threads oryarns to the needles and including thread or yarn to be knit in forpartial courses only, the binder being provided with severing meansadapti ed to sever any of the mentioned-threads or yarns when withdrawnfrom feeding relation with respect to all of the needles, but notadapted to sever partialcourse floats of the thread or only, the saidpartial course floats normally floating as chords across the needlecircle, means for wrapping one or more threads around selected needles,and means so controlling the thread floats during knitting that suchthread floats are drawn adjacent fabric by the wrap threads.

A latch ring for machines,

thereby, the latch ring being provided with .means for feeding threadsoryarns to the needles and including thread or yarn to be knit in forpartial courses only, the binder being provided with severing meansalapted to sever any of the mentioned threads or yarns when withdrawntion with respect to all of adapted to sever partial thread or yarn knitin from feeding relathe needles, but not course floats of the oppositethe thread feeding yarn binder carried use in circular knitting. athread or yarn b nder carried for partial courses yarn knit in forpartial courses,

only, the said partial floats normally floating as chords across theneedle circle, and means adapted to act upon the said partial coursefloats consisting of an element adapted to increase the lengths thereof.

9. A circular knitting machine of the independent needle type providedwith a rotat able needle cylinder, needles independently mountedtherein, means for feeding threads to 'the needles, one, at least, ofsaid threads adapted to be knit in by certain of the needles only andfloat across the needle circle from the last knit in Wale of one courseto the first knit in Wale of the following course, means adapted tosever any one of the threads when withdrawn from feeding relation" withre spect to all of the needles, other means adapted to increase thelength of the mentioned floats and positioned substantially opposite thethread feeding means.

10. A latch ring for knitting machines, a thread feeding means carriedthereby, a float thread engaging member positioned substantiallydiametrically opposite the thread feeding means and consisting of an areshaped bar having a grooved thread receiving portion thereofsubstantially concentric with thelatch ring.

11. In a circular knitting machine of the rotary cylinder type, needlesand yarn guides for feeding a main yarn to all of the needles during theknitting of complete courses and an additional yarn to some of theneedles for partial courses only, means for Wrapping at least one threadaround at least oneof the needles during the knitting of the saidpartial courses, in combination with means for so controlling the saidadditional yarn during the knitting of said partial courses that floatsof the wrapping thread are permitted to extend along the inner face ofthe fabric and adjacent thereto, the additional yarn floats beingconfined between the thread floats and the inner face of the fabric.

12. A knitting machine including a rotary needle cylinder having needlesmounted therein, means for feeding threads to the needles, one, atleast, of such threads being adapted to be knitted into the fabric forpartial courses only, means movable in time with the needle cylinder.adapted to Wrap at least one additional thread around at least oneneedle in such a way that floats of said additional thread would beelongated by a float or floats of the thread knitted into the/fabric forpartial courses only, in combination with means adapted .to act upon thethread last mentioned and in such a way that the floats of the wrapthreadare permitted to lie adjacent to the rear face of the fabric.

13. In a circular knitting machine having rotary needles independentlymounted therein, means for feeding a body thread to all of the needlesand an additional thread to some of the needles only, means for wrappingat least one other additional thread around one or more needles, andmeans for so acting upon the first mentioned additional thread, whichotherwise would elongate the floats of the wrap thread, as to permit thewrap thread floats to lie adjacent to the inner face of the knittedfabric.

14. A circular knitting machine including a rotary needle cylinderhaving needles vmounted therein, means for feeding at least one threadto all of the needles and an additional thread to some only of theneedles, other means movable in time with the needle cylinder forWrapping at least one other thread around selected needles, the saidadditional and wrap threads being presented to the needles in such a Waythat, unless avoided, floats of the said additional thread would bepositioned between the rear face of the fabric and the wrap threadfloats and elongate the floats of such Wrap thread, in combination withother means for so acting upon the said additional thread as to permitthe floats of the wrap thread tdlie adjacent to the rear face of thefabric.

15. A circular knitting machine of the rotary needle type having meansfor feeding at least one thread to all of the needles and a secondthread to some only of the needles and a third thread to selectedneedles only in such a way that, unless avoided, floats of the second.thread would be positioned between the rear face of the fabric and thefloats of the third thread and elongate the floats of such third thread,in combination with other means for so acting upon the second thread asto permit the floats of the third thread to lie adjacent to the face ofthe fabric.

I In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

. ROBERT H. LAWSON.

